Nina Simone: Sinnerman Meaning

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Sinnerman Lyrics

Sinnerman where you gunna run to
Sinnerman where you gunna run to
Where you gunna run to
All on that day

Well I run to the rock
Please hide me I run to the rock
Please hide me I run to the rock
Please hide me lord
All on that...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Oct 28th 2006 report

   A sinnerman with nowhere to go. The lyrics are pleading, but the singer's voice isn't. A lesser singer would wrap it in compassion for the sinner. But nina takes sin seriously, and understands its tenacity and its abiding faith in its own resources. The voice remains composed, convinced there's a way out, until finally, all avenues exhausted, the "sinner" returns to god.
   But the lord said, "go to the devil."
   the lord said, "go to the devil."
   he said, "go to the devil."
   this shows angry, righteous god telling the sinner to go to the devil, so she eventually does, with no other place to go.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Jun 24th 2007 report

   This song is about the Apocalypse and one particular man (or woman in Simone's case) who tries to convince God to spare his or her life by praying, but God says that it is too late and that she should have been praying her entire life. "That day" referred to throughout the song, is Judgment Day, evidenced by the boiling oceans, the appearance of the Antichrist (the devil) and "the rock" being unable to hide her. The rock is either the Earth or the Moon. When she cries out at the end of the song, it means either that God has decided to spare the Earth its destruction or that God has decided to destroy the world.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 3rd 2013 report

   This song is talking about judgement day the " End of the world" when Jesus returns. If you read Revelation 6:16. During that time, sinner's who have not repented of their wrong doings will cry out for the rocks to hide them because the glory of the Lord will be too bright for them. They will be destroyed for living a sinful life. They will run but cannot escape the wrath of God and the brightness of His Glory. The person who repents of their sins don't have to worry. When God's glory is revealed to them they will be changed to have perfect immortal bodies. Read 1Thessalonians 4 13-18. If we believe and give our hearts to God now before it is too late, we don't have to worry about judgement day.We will have a better life like never before but the wicked will be destroyed thus saith the Lord. Believe my friends!..uou have everything to gain and nothing to lose if you do.
4. anonymous

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   Mar 9th 2019 report

   Posting anonymously because this site won't let me log in. To the poster who admonished everyone to read their Bible and called them "idiots" - Christ was actually angered by hypocrites. Matthew 5:22 "...whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." Take your own advice, my friend, and stop driving people away from Christ with your loveless, angry judgment. I will be praying that you find the truth.
5. anonymous

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   Jan 25th 2018 report

   You missed the punch line of the song when God sends her to the devil and then she says "He was waiting there" meaning God was waiting to get and destroy the devil on judgment day.
   An interpretation from HadjiBen
6. anonymous

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   Jan 17th 2018 report

   Dios no es misericordioso. El diablo si.
7. anonymous

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   May 28th 2016 report

   The man of sins is running to hide from the events that are going around him but no one can help him. When he finally go to the only one who is powerful enough to help him, Lord, the lord rejected him and said "go to where you belong... to the devil" and the devil was there waiting in hell. So, the man of sin asked for power from the lord. He begged him mercy. But it was too late to be sorry.
   --2633
8. anonymous

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   Jun 25th 2015 report

   Nina Simone was raised in a fairly religious Christian home and sang in churches. I think this song reflects her belief in what would happen to sinners. There is no where to hide from God. The sinnerman in this song may be repenting too late because God is now upon him. He is scrambling around looking for a place to hid from God, yelling I'm sorry I'm sorry. God views this as too little too late. Sinnerman is only sorry he got caught.
9. TRUONE

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   Aug 16th 2013 report

   This song is about the judgment of man-kind. The coming of the glory of God will be so bright. Sinners will run and hide. They know who they are.
10. anonymous

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    Mar 3rd 2013 report

    Maybe this song is about running away from our demons, but they are always there inside os us no matter where we go. Maybe the rock is the demons inside us.
11. anonymous

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    Aug 13th 2011 report

    You idiots "the rock" is A ROCK. Read the bible and you may get some more insight to "the rock"
12. anonymous

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    May 28th 2011 report

    I have always thought that this song describes the drama of people when they ran to the church of a little town named Bojaya in the Colombian northwestern, which was being under attack by guerrillas, a lot of men, women and chidren died, victims of fire, praying for help.I wish Colombian people can live peaceful.
13. anonymous

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    Apr 5th 2011 report

    How about she goes to the devil and sells her soul for power, money, fame.
14. anonymous

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    Mar 17th 2011 report

    wow ! so much for a "kind and loving god"...who sends his child to the devil just when he needs god most ! I think the interpretation of God itself is totally twisted.
15. anonymous

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    Feb 1st 2011 report

    "Rock" is crack. This song is about her addiction to it.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
16. anonymous

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    Nov 2nd 2008 report

    I think the rock may be be Jesus.

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